they did exactly well in the october elections. they are in a prime position to exploited the crisis in the regime. i don't think maduro is a shoo-in necessarily. >> he added if he were to be elected president of venezuela he would be as every bit as bad as u.s. ever since chavez took over venezuela his country as taken on a steady anti-american tone. he developed friendships with some of the world's worst dictators. no now, at least publicly chavez appears to be up for the continuing battling with cancer telling his people, quote, with god's will we will come out of this victorious. i have faith in that. that is a quote from chavez. >> gregg: arthel nevil, thanks. >> heather: as we mentioned we have just learned that president obama and house speaker john boehner met today at the white house to talk about ways to resolve the fiscal cliff. meanwhile, we have brand-new reaction from lawmakers from both sides of the aisle speaking out today with just weeks left to reach a deal and little reported progress. the fight appears to be mov